B.C. Conservative Party’s rules expose shaky power grab as interim leader Lorne Doerkson tries to lock in premiership
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After winning a majority, Lorne Doerkson says he will stay on as British Columbia’s premier, but the party’s own constitution still needs amending before his position is formally secured.
The Conservative Party of British Columbia won a majority government on Saturday night, but the victory immediately ran into a self-inflicted constitutional obstacle: the party’s rules require an amendment for interim leader Lorne Doerkson to stay on as party head and premier. Doerkson, who was appointed interim leader in September, told CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops on Monday that he expects to remain in both roles once sworn in, brushing it off as an internal administrative matter rather than the serious legitimacy question it plainly is.
"It's an administrative situation within the party that they're dealing with right now," Doerkson said, adding that an official announcement was pending.
The party had already said it would "pursue the appropriate means" under its constitution to make sure Doerkson could continue as premier, arguing that a premier chosen by voters deserves certainty of leadership. Even so, there has been no confirmation that the required amendment has actually been completed, leaving the process unresolved despite the public mandate.
The B.C. Conservatives have been through a rapid churn of leadership over the past year, including the resignation of John Rustad in December and the brief tenure of Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who stepped down in September. Doerkson took over the interim role the day after Findlay’s resignation and has since been referred to as the party’s leader rather than interim leader, further underscoring the party’s habit of moving faster on messaging than on formal process.
Doerkson said he is confident in his support across the province, saying he feels "pretty good" about the backing he has received.